Biogen Will Build Bigger Space

April 26--Biogen Idec is preparing to expand its Research
Triangle Park campus, reinforcing the Massachusetts drug company's
commitment to this region.

Officials plan to hold a ceremony Thursday to begin construction
of a 180,000-square-foot building. It will include a five-story
administrative office wing and amenities such as a cafeteria, an
auditorium and conference rooms.

The new space will give Biogen's nearly 850 existing employees
more room, allow the company to leave some leased offices and could
lead to additional hiring.

That's one reason Biogen didn't seek state or local incentives
to help pay for the project. Such awards typically are tied to job
creation milestones.

"There are just so many variables that go into headcount
projections, we didn't have the confidence" to seek incentives,
McBrierty said. He declined to disclose the company's investment in
the expansion.

Biogen is just one of several drug companies that are expanding
in this area, creating jobs and attracting attention to the
Triangle as a hotspot for pharmaceutical research and
manufacturing.

"It is further validation that the North Carolina model for
economic development and biotech is working," said Norris Tolson,
CEO of the N.C. Biotechnology Center.

Companies are drawn to this state because of its business
climate, workforce training programs, leading research efforts and
other factors, he added.

Biogen's new building will allow the company to move about 275
people who work out of leased space in Durham, consolidating its
footprint and reducing its real-estate costs. Those employees
answer patients' questions and provide other support services. The
building is expected to be ready late next year.

What they make

Biogen disclosed initial plans for the expansion in a February
regulatory filing, but didn't reveal many details. The company
already occupies about 550,000 square feet of manufacturing,
office, warehouse and lab space at its RTP campus.

Some of the company's local workers make the multiple sclerosis
treatments Tysabri and Avonex.

The RTP operations also produce biologic drugs for other
companies. That involves using live cells, as opposed to drugs made
from chemicals or other compounds.

"As Biogen Idec's product pipeline matures, manufacturing
activity at the RTP site continues to increase," said John G. Cox,
executive vice president of pharmaceutical operations and
technology. "We look forward to using our expertise in biologics
manufacturing to bring new therapies to patients with unmet medical
needs around the world."

The expansion follows a recent restructuring that included
closing offices in San Diego and Massachusetts, and eliminating
about 13 percent of Biogen's workforce.

Last week, Biogen reported that first-quarter revenue rose to
$1.2 billion, up 8.5 percent from a year ago, driven by stronger
sales of Avonex and other products. CEO George Scangos also
disclosed promising results for an experimental pill to treat MS,
sending Biogen's shares soaring 15 percent.

The stock close at $100.28 on Monday, up 58 cents.

alan.wolf@newsobserver.com or 919-829-4572

------

To see more of The News & Observer, or to subscribe to the
newspaper, go to http://www.newsobserver.com.

April 26--Biogen Idec is preparing to expand its Research
Triangle Park campus, reinforcing the Massachusetts drug company's
commitment to this region.

Officials plan to hold a ceremony Thursday to begin construction
of a 180,000-square-foot building. It will include a five-story
administrative office wing and amenities such as a cafeteria, an
auditorium and conference rooms.

The new space will give Biogen's nearly 850 existing employees
more room, allow the company to leave some leased offices and could
lead to additional hiring.

That's one reason Biogen didn't seek state or local incentives
to help pay for the project. Such awards typically are tied to job
creation milestones.

"There are just so many variables that go into headcount
projections, we didn't have the confidence" to seek incentives,
McBrierty said. He declined to disclose the company's investment in
the expansion.

Biogen is just one of several drug companies that are expanding
in this area, creating jobs and attracting attention to the
Triangle as a hotspot for pharmaceutical research and
manufacturing.

"It is further validation that the North Carolina model for
economic development and biotech is working," said Norris Tolson,
CEO of the N.C. Biotechnology Center.

Companies are drawn to this state because of its business
climate, workforce training programs, leading research efforts and
other factors, he added.

Biogen's new building will allow the company to move about 275
people who work out of leased space in Durham, consolidating its
footprint and reducing its real-estate costs. Those employees
answer patients' questions and provide other support services. The
building is expected to be ready late next year.

What they make

Biogen disclosed initial plans for the expansion in a February
regulatory filing, but didn't reveal many details. The company
already occupies about 550,000 square feet of manufacturing,
office, warehouse and lab space at its RTP campus.

Some of the company's local workers make the multiple sclerosis
treatments Tysabri and Avonex.

The RTP operations also produce biologic drugs for other
companies. That involves using live cells, as opposed to drugs made
from chemicals or other compounds.

"As Biogen Idec's product pipeline matures, manufacturing
activity at the RTP site continues to increase," said John G. Cox,
executive vice president of pharmaceutical operations and
technology. "We look forward to using our expertise in biologics
manufacturing to bring new therapies to patients with unmet medical
needs around the world."

The expansion follows a recent restructuring that included
closing offices in San Diego and Massachusetts, and eliminating
about 13 percent of Biogen's workforce.

Last week, Biogen reported that first-quarter revenue rose to
$1.2 billion, up 8.5 percent from a year ago, driven by stronger
sales of Avonex and other products. CEO George Scangos also
disclosed promising results for an experimental pill to treat MS,
sending Biogen's shares soaring 15 percent.

The stock close at $100.28 on Monday, up 58 cents.

alan.wolf@newsobserver.com or 919-829-4572

------

To see more of The News & Observer, or to subscribe to the
newspaper, go to http://www.newsobserver.com.